Recognition of Spyware

[Dave S]

why does the product not find the Alexa spyware I wonder?

 

[Bill Sanderson]

I don't wonder about this at all.

Explain exactly what makes the particular implementation of Alexa you are
talking about spyware, please?

Does it fit the criteria listed here?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892340 Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
identifies a program as a spyware threat (Listing criteria and Dispute
process)

 

[plun]

I don't wonder about this at all.

Explain exactly what makes the particular implementation of Alexa you are
talking about spyware, please?

Does it fit the criteria listed here?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892340 Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
identifies a program as a spyware threat (Listing criteria and Dispute
process)

Is MS-Alexa or Spyware-Alexa

Spyware-Alexa:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/spyware.alexa.html

MS-Alexa:
http://www.imilly.com/alexa.htm

I dont trust none of them.........

--

 

[plun]

I don't wonder about this at all.

Explain exactly what makes the particular implementation of Alexa you are
talking about spyware, please?

Does it fit the criteria listed here?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892340 Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
identifies a program as a spyware threat (Listing criteria and Dispute
process)

Is it MS-Alexa or Spyware-Alexa

Spyware-Alexa:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/spyware.alexa.html

MS-Alexa:
http://www.imilly.com/alexa.htm

I dont trust none of them.........

--

 

[Guest]

Seem to have hit a sore spot here. You responded so
quickly it you must be checking the posts before they are
posted. I don't care what you say, every other spyware
program that I have used, finds and removes alexa
however, this one, as good as it is, doesn't.

WHY?

http://www.imilly.com/alexa.htm

http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?
id=453073177

http://www.felgall.com/brsie9.htm

http://www.actualresearch.com/spydetails-19.html

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/sp
yware.alexa.html

http://simplythebest.net/info/spyware/alexa_spyware.html

http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/xfdb/14243

http://utmosthost.com/THIEFWARE/ALEXA/

and the list goes on and on

 

[Bill Sanderson]

I do wonder why people get excited about the MS-Alexa link.

You hit a button which allows you to request "related" links.

Related to what? Related to the URL you are presently visiting.

So--what does the button do? It transmits the URL you are presently
visiting to Alexa, so that they can send back the "related" stuff.

What kind of magic were you expecting?

 

[A McGuire]

Like I trust any of those sources for conspiracy theories. Alexa is a value
added service to those that use it. I've used it before - it's not
something that is going to pry its way in through your firewall and install
itself in the background. Yes, as Bill said, there is a two way
transmission of data - you can't get query results without sending
parameters my friend. If you feel Alexa is spyware, you can probably use
another tool to remove it - no one AntiSpyware solution is ample, especially
a beta product all by its lonesome.

 

[Guest]

For Bill Sanderson
been using the programe sice it started a geat program,
but tonight my e-mail will not open when i click on the
mail icon, i am using microsoft office outlook, but if i
change to outlook express it works ok, could the antispy
programe cause it not to run

 

[A McGuire]

Sorry to interject here, but I use Outlook 2003 as well as OE, and I've had
no issues. Do you get an error of some sort?

 

[Bill Sanderson]

To check, right click the Microsoft Antispyware icon in the system tray, and
choose to shutdown the program.

Re-test with both mail applications.

If they both work, restart Microsoft Antispyware via the All Programs menu,
and test again.

 

[plun]

Like I trust any of those sources for conspiracy theories. Alexa is a value
added service to those that use it. I've used it before - it's not
something that is going to pry its way in through your firewall and install
itself in the background. Yes, as Bill said, there is a two way
transmission of data - you can't get query results without sending
parameters my friend. If you feel Alexa is spyware, you can probably use
another tool to remove it - no one AntiSpyware solution is ample, especially
a beta product all by its lonesome.

Nevertheless Alexa (with toolbar) fits spyware criterias. It
doesn´t make any difference that this is a "value added
service" from a respected company. Spyware is spyware.

http://www.spynet.com/info_spywarecriteria.aspx

--

 

[A McGuire]

So I suppose any toolbar (Google, MSN, etc) or desktop search agent (again,
Google, MSN, etc) are classified as spyware? I'm just trying to clarify the
definition. I think the definition is pretty vague and subjective at best.
That is why there is no one tool or utility that can nail this dilemma on
the head, correct?

 

[plun]

So I suppose any toolbar (Google, MSN, etc) or desktop search agent (again,
Google, MSN, etc) are classified as spyware? I'm just trying to clarify the
definition. I think the definition is pretty vague and subjective at best.
That is why there is no one tool or utility that can nail this dilemma on
the head, correct?

"Google is my friend", it does not collect personal
information, but who knows.....

Symantecs description:
Spyware.Alexa is a program that installs a toolbar and
collects browsing and search information.

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/spyware.alexa.html

--

 

[Guest]

Hi Bill they are both working now

 

[A McGuire]

Is Google the friend we think they are? GMail is going to do some things
that most would find mild compared to Alexa. Their Desktop search might
just do the same, but who knows - I only used it for about a week, then went
with the MSN Desktop Search. The probably have something in the EULA saying
they collect data, but don't do anything with it of course ;-)

 

[Bill Sanderson]

It doesn't surprise me, somehow. Knowing the vagaries of email programs,
I'm not too surprised that this doesn't replicate--and I'm glad--both for
you that it is working, and that this isn't another problem with Microsoft
Antispyware.

Whether the initial problem really was a result of Microsoft Antispyware, or
had some other root cause, I can't say--could have been either way.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

The criteria for Microsoft Antispyware are found at this location:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/892340 Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
identifies a program as a spyware threat (Listing criteria and Dispute
process)

Multiple entities have standards for what they call spyware, but the ones in
this KB article are those used by this application.